Walter Schellenberg

German police and SS general, head of the military secret services and convicted war criminal (1910-1952)

  • Fame56.8
  • Momentum0.0
  • Wikipedia28.8K
Source-basedStable
Lived 1910–1952, aged 42Germany
Germany flagGermanyWritersWriter / Author
  • Wikipedia
    33 languages
    Cross-language footprint
  • Era
    1910–1952
    Aged 42
  • Awards
    2
    recognised works
Summary
Updated 2026-06-12

Head of Nazi Germany's foreign intelligence after 1944, Schellenberg rose through the SS security apparatus to become one of the Sicherheitsdienst's highest-ranking operatives during the Third Reich.

Biography

About

Born 16 January 1910, Walter Friedrich Schellenberg climbed the SS hierarchy as a functionary in the security apparatus of the Nazi state. His ascent through the Sicherheitsdienst—the intelligence arm of the SS—brought him to the upper echelons of the organization. When the Abwehr was dissolved in 1944, he assumed control of foreign intelligence for Nazi Germany. He died 31 March 1952.

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from Walter Schellenberg

Walter Schellenberg
said
In my opinion, a war between England and Germany was a war between brothers. In my inner self I admired the English government and political system.
To Leon Goldensohn (13 March 1946). Quoted in "The Nuremberg Interviews" - by Leon Goldensohn, Robert Gellately - History - 2004
Walter Schellenberg
said
I could not tell Himmler everything because he was too false and two-faced.
To Leon Goldensohn (13 March 1946). Quoted in "The Nuremberg Interviews" - by Leon Goldensohn, Robert Gellately - History - 2004
Walter Schellenberg
said
No one. That was the difficulty of my position. Any day something might happen to me.
To Leon Goldensohn, after being asked if Himmler trusted anyone (13 March 1946). Quoted in "The Nuremberg Interviews" - by Leon Goldensohn,
Walter Schellenberg
said
In my case, though I had an idea of what was going on - I purposely didn't see it.
To Leon Goldensohn (12 March 1946). Quoted in "The Nuremberg Interviews" - by Leon Goldensohn, Robert Gellately - History - 2004
Walter Schellenberg
said
Many of my personal enemies picture me as a cold type - a person who acts according to a certain line, a calculating type.
To Leon Goldensohn (12 March 1946). Quoted in "The Nuremberg Interviews" - by Leon Goldensohn, Robert Gellately - History - 2004
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By the numbers

Score breakdown

The six component signals behind the Fame score, and their ranks across the leaderboards.

Fame
Stable
56.8
Composite of search demand, mentions, audience & graph footprint.
Score components
Historical24.8
Source confidence60.0
Completeness70.0
Global rank
Country rank
Category rank
Receipts

Sources

  • Wikidata
    wikidata · wikidata.org
    High confidence
  • Wikipedia
    wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org
    High confidence
  • Pantheon 2.0
    database · pantheon.world
    High confidence